Imago
via Imago/Imagn
Imago
via Imago/Imagn
The universe definitely has a sense of humor. In 2023, Caitlin Clark made headlines by waving off a freshman, Raven Johnson. In 2026, the Indiana Fever just drafted Johnson as the No. 10 pick in the draft making Clark and Johnson teammates. However, the fans have questions about whether Johnson will have any significant role as she plays the same position as Clark. However, coach Stephanie White has explained how Johnson will elevate this squad.
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The Indiana Fever had already brought in a backup guard in Tyasha Harris. Before missing 2025, she averaged 10.5 points and 3 assists for the Sun playing under Stephanie White. Not many expected Fever to add a third point guard in this draft. There was a variety on the floor still left for Indiana Fever to pick from. Ole Miss forward Cotie McMahon, South Carolina center Madina Okot or even TCU star Marta Suarez. However, Stephanie White believes Johnson gives them more versatility and room to implement different lineups.
“Caitlin is a player who can play on and off the ball. Raven is a point guard that primarily has the ball in her hands, so it gives us versatility,” Stephanie White told the media. “Thankfully having a couple of different guards gives us the ability to allow Kelsey to rest a little bit too.”
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Johnson is a 5-foot-9 point guard who finished her career as one of the most decorated players to play under South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. She was a defensive menace this past season, with 1.5 steals while scoring 9.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. She was the court general for South Carolina.
Steph White on the depth at point guard with Caitlin Clark, Ty Harris, and Raven Johnson:
“I think it gives us some versatility. Thankfully, having a couple of different guards gives us the ability to allow Kelsey to rest a little bit, too.”
Full answer: pic.twitter.com/1peoPnRCx4
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) April 14, 2026
Johnson has improved her shooting as well, going 39.8% from the three-point line, albeit in only 2.6. She is in acceptable territory rather than being considered a pure shooter. However, her usage rate of 17.4% suggests she played a significant time off the ball as well. And at the Fever, she will not be running the offense and will need to show her offensive ability.
“I think we’ll have a good rotation when it comes to our perimeter players, especially in the one-to-two spot. It will give us a lot of different ways that we can play and a lot of different matchups,” White further said. “We can give different looks, so it’s going to be really important. We can go with a defensive lineup. When you have somebody like Raven, and Ty played for us in Connecticut, she understands what we’re about on the defensive end of the floor.”
Caitlin Clark and Raven Johnson could be considered polar opposites. Johnson is a defense-first guard who turned the ball over just 1.6 times per game. On the other hand, Clark takes more risks, shoots the ball better and turns it over 5.5 times per game. These two playing together is a gamble.
They could offset their strengths and weaknesses or it could be a rusty combination that changes the balance of the team. The Indiana Fever had the seventh best defense last year and ranked fifth in steals per game. Johnson could help them improve that if given enough time on the court.
Caitlin Clark is coming off major soft tissue injuries and can shift to a more off-ball role. She needs more creativity from her teammates as well, as she had more than 70% of her field goals unassisted last year. So, the Fever could experiment with Clark moving to shooting guard while Raven Johnson takes the point. Of course, Clark will remain the primary engine but this structure could rest her for some time while maintaining her impact.
With regard to the shooting, Fever seems to already have enough firepower in Sophie Cunningham, Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, and even Harris to some extent. So there is not an immediate need for Johnson to deliver on that. Johnson has enough time to improve and she is looking to do just that.
Raven Johnson Will Be A “Gnat” In The Indiana Fever Locker Room
Like referenced above, Raven Johnson has some history with Caitlin Clark. After getting waived off in 2023, she fired back by shutting Clark down in the 2024 title game and winning the National Championship. Just a few weeks ago, Johnson admitted that she wanted to quit after the online firestorm and had a difficult time. But it has been a beat since that moment, as even Clark praised Johnson in 2024. Now she is ready to take that next step into the WNBA.
“They have a lot of vets that I can learn from and they’re winners,” Johnson said. “Everybody on that team likes to win and I think that’s what makes that team special, so to go to a team that has the same mentality as me of winning is phenomenal.”
Johnson said she’ll “be a sponge” and probably a “gnat” because she’ll ask her vets so many questions. But more particularly, the presence of Aliyah Boston will make her more comfortable. She was Johnson’s mentor at South Carolina until 2023.
“It’s so crazy,” Johnson said of the reunion. “(Boston) taught me so much through my college experience. She taught me what pro habits were … her leadership, (being) a role model, it goes a long way. She is a phenomenal person and instills so much in young people, there’s no way you don’t want to play with somebody like that.”
The Indiana Fever wants to be a genuine title contender after reaching the semifinals last year. And they will hope Johnson steps up and helps them go to another level.
